Bikey, fresh from scoring a brace against Birmingham last weekend, tried his luck from inside his own half after just two minutes, but his speculative effort was easily gathered by Blackburn keeper Friedel.

Rovers were fortunate shortly afterwards when Friedel palmed John Oster's cross against Nelsen and Hunt, under pressure from Andre Ooijer, poked the rebound wide.

The visitors offered very little going forward apart from a mazy run by Jason Roberts from inside his own half, which ended when he was brought down by Matejovsky 25 yards from goal.

The resulting free-kick was touched to Pedersen but his powerful left-footed shot was tipped over by Hahnemann.

At the end of the half, Friedel was quick off his line to deny the on-rushing Dave Kitson as the teams remained deadlocked at the interval.

Dave Kitson makes an acrobatic attempt to put Reading in front

After the break, Hunt had a chance to put Reading in front but steered Liam Rosenior's cross over the bar, while at the other end England winger David Bentley forced Hahnemann into an excellent save with a volley from 20 yards.

Blackburn again went close when leading scorer Roque Santa Cruz raced clear but he shot wide as Hahnemann rushed out.

The game turned in the visitors' favour minutes later when referee Mark Clattenberg showed Czech International Matejovsky his second yellow card of the afternoon for a body check on Roberts.

Down to 10-men, Reading seemed rattled and first Khizanishvili and then Pedersen shot straight at Hahnemann when free.

The home side regrouped, however, and Hunt had a great chance to win it but he failed to make contact with substitute Long's cross from six yards.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes reshuffled his pack to play five up front late on and it nearly paid off with a close range effort by Santa Cruz, but Hahnemann again came to his side's rescue.

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